Medicare is a form of health insurance that many people can get after they reach a certain age, and, in some cases, people who are not of a certain age can also receive Medicare benefits. Medicare Health Insurance AZ recommends that people learn all their options when applying for Medicare benefits.
Although most people can apply for Medicare after turning 65 years of age, some eligibility requirements need to be met to receive Medicare.
Let’s discuss who is eligible for Medicare and the requirements associated with each eligibility.
Those 65 Years or Older
If you are 65 years or older, you can qualify for Medicare, pending a few requirements. Before receiving Medicare benefits, you must be a United States citizen or have established residency for the past five years. These two eligibilities will allow you to apply for Part B of Medicare insurance, which is hospital coverage. If you want to receive Part A hospital insurance, you must meet a few other requirements. You must also be receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits at the time of applying. If you are not receiving these benefits, you must have worked long enough to be eligible to receive these benefits.
You are entitled to Medicare benefits if your spouse is receiving or is eligible to receive Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits, whether they are living, deceased, or you are divorced. If you or your spouse worked a government job where you paid Medicare taxes, you are eligible for Medicare. If you are the dependent of a deceased child, this can also make you eligible for Medicare benefits.
You can apply for Medicare three months before your 65th birthday. Although 65 is a typical age to apply and receive Medicare, you can receive benefits for specific reasons if you are under 65.
Less Than 65 Years
You can receive Medicare benefits if you have a disability and receive Social Security Disability benefits for 24 consecutive months. You can also receive Medicare benefits if you are receiving disability from the Railroad Retirement Board, have received these benefits for 24 straight months, and have a disability-insured status under social security law. You are immediately eligible for medicare if you have Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Lastly, if you have permanent kidney failure and are on regular dialysis or need a kidney transplant, you can receive Medicare benefits. Having any of these eligibilities can get you Part A and Part B of Medicare.
Establishing Medicare benefits can prove to be helpful for people who are 65 years or older or have medical conditions. Medical and hospital insurance can help anyone who takes certain medications, needs frequent doctor visits, or needs a safety net in case anything goes wrong. Be sure to apply for Medicare when necessary, and if you are having trouble, find someone knowledgeable and experienced who can guide you through the process. After all, we deserve sustainable and reliable healthcare, especially as we get older.
